2 August 2017
Issue No: 31
Grenfell Fire
Response News
Work to retrieve possessions to take place
A process is now in place to retrieve possessions from flats at Grenfell Tower
that were less extensively damaged by the fire.
To support the ongoing forensic investigation and ensure the safety of personnel
inside the building, additional structural works will start in the coming weeks.
A specialist recovery company has been employed to remove possessions
from 33 flats in Grenfell Tower and 22 flats in Grenfell Walk. Letters have been
sent to affected residents to let them know how possessions will be recovered
from their properties.
If people have any questions, they should talk to their Key Worker
or housing advisor, and for more information and updates visit
www.grenfellresponse.org.uk
Public consultation closes on Friday
The public consultation on the Terms of Reference for the Grenfell Tower
Inquiry will close this week, on Friday 4 August.
The consultation is an opportunity for people to let the Inquiry team
know what they believe the Inquiry should cover. The consultation period
was extended by three weeks to allow more time for people to respond
and ensure the Inquiry’s work, which cannot begin without the terms of
reference, can progress.
You can find out more and submit a response online at
www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/news/grenfell-tower-inquiry-
seeks-views-work
Public meeting taking place next week
The next community public meeting will take place next week on
Wednesday 9 August. Full details on the venue and timings will be given
in the near future. The session will aim to provide:
• an update from Response Team representatives
• a face-to-face question and answer session
• guidance on information and support available.
Meetings are open to the public, so please do come along or invite people
from the Lancaster West estate who you think would like to attend.
If you have suggestions of any issues you would like to see addressed at the
meeting, please contact communityengagement@grenfellresponse.org
IN THIS EDITION
1 Work to retrieve
possessions to take place
1 Public consultation
closing on Friday
1 Public meeting taking
place next week
2 Activities for young
people this summer
2 Transport support
line from TfL
2 Pop-up shop for residents
3 Mental health support
3 Air quality update
by Dr Yvonne Doyle
4 Housing update
4 #Game4Grenfell charity
football match
What is this newsletter for?
This is the thirty-first edition
of the Grenfell Fire Response
Team newsletter. We want to
keep you up to date with all
the latest information and
services available to help.
The newsletter is also available
in Arabic and Farsi languages.
For regular updates please follow
us on Twitter @grenfellsupport
and on Facebook at facebook.
com/grenfellsupport or visit
www.grenfellresponse.org.uk
Grenfell Fire Response News
2 August 2017
Activities for children and young
people this summer
There are a range of activities planned to support parents in the local
community to entertain children and young people during the summer holidays.
Summer in the City
There are hundreds of events and
activities taking place for children,
young people and their families
this summer across central
London. Enjoy outdoor activities,
bake-offs, free cycling tours, nature
trails, cupcake making, graffiti art,
photography and much more.
You can pick up a copy at locations
across the borough or visit www.
mysummerinthecity.org.uk
Summer camps
The Good Grief Trust is holding
creative workshops for young
people and families on weekdays
from 10am to 3pm, until Friday 11
August at the Playground Theatre,
Latimer Road, W10 6RQ. People
can enjoy arts, crafts, t-shirt
making and more, and lunch
will be provided each day.
The camps are held by The Good
Grief Trust in collaboration with Jake
Walker and The Playground Theatre.
You can find out more by calling
Liz Dempsey on 07713 148 021
or online at www.facebook.com/
thegoodgrieftrust
Community sports day
An open day of activities and fun
is being held on Saturday 5
August, from 10am to 5pm
at The Westway Sports Centre,
1 Crowthorne Road, W10 6RP.
A huge range of activities will be on
offer for people including climbing,
football, tennis, arts and crafts,
indoor cycling and Zumba. There
will also be a grand prize draw for
an activity hamper worth £3,500.
There is no need to book to attend
the open day, just turn up and enjoy.
Drop-in and play football
programme
QPR, Westway Sports Centre,
and other local organisations are
providing a free drop-in and play
football programme for 4 to 18 year
olds from the local community.
Sessions are taking place Monday
to Friday, 10am to 4pm at the
Westway Sports Centre and the
programme is being delivered by
professional DBS qualified staff.
Outdoor summer
holiday activities
The Ecology Centre in Holland
Park, W8 6LU, is running outdoor
summer holiday activities for
young people aged 4 to 12 until
1 September. The activities are
taking place in the Centre’s Wildlife
Area so that children can have
fun and learn about animals and
nature, and indoor craft sessions.
The programme includes wildlife
and forest-themed activities, craft
sessions and family activity days.
Please note that children under eight
must be accompanied by an adult.
A full programme of activities can
be found on the ‘holiday activities’
section of the Ecology Centre website
at www.rbkc.gov.uk/ecology
To book or for further information
please call the Ecology Centre
on 020 7938 8186 or email
ecology.centre@rbkc.gov.uk
More information
on events and activities
throughout the summer
can be found online at
www.rbkc.gov.uk/fis
Transport support
line for residents
from TfL
A support line is now open from
Transport for London to give travel
support and advice for people
affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
The support line can provide
advice on a wide range of travel
issues from a specialist team
of advisors, including:
• advice on topping up Oyster
cards for those who have
already received a new card
• information about Dial-a-Ride
for people who are unable to
use public transport
• journey planning for people
who have moved to a new area
• support to get replacement
documents.
The support line is 0800 222 9876
and is open every day from
10am to 6pm.
Pop-up shop
for Grenfell
residents today
A charity pop-up shop will be
open today, Wednesday 2 August,
for Grenfell residents to choose
clothes, shoes and children’s toys
that have been donated to Latymer
Community Church.
Residents can choose any items
free from the shop, which will be
open between 11 am and 3pm at
142 Bramley Road, W10 6SR.
The shop is open to Grenfell Tower
and Grenfell Walk residents, plus
anyone who remains in temporary
accommodation and feels unable
to return to their home. People
need to bring ID with them when
visiting the shop.
You can find out more online at
www.latymer.org.uk or by calling
07967 606 272.
2
Grenfell Fire Response News
2 August 2017
Mental health support
There are lots of services available if you or an adult or young person you know is feeling traumatised
by the Grenfell Tower fire.
Support for adults and young
people over the phone
• If you require an urgent mental
health response for yourself,
or on behalf of a young person,
you can call the NHS 24-hour
support line on 0800 0234 650
or email cnw-tr.spa@nhs.net.
Please let the operator know
you are calling as a result of
the Grenfell Tower fire.
• The British Red Cross helpline is
also available to anyone affected
by the Grenfell Tower fire. For
practical or emotional support
you can call 0800 458 9472.
The line is open from 9am to
5pm, Monday to Friday.
• Adults and young people
can also call the free Samaritans
helpline on 116 123. The line
is open 24 hours a day.
• People under 25 can call Childline
any time on 0800 11 11 and
have a one-to-one chat with a
supportive, trained counsellor
any time, day or night.
• CALM offers support to men,
who can call the confidential
helpline on 0808 802 58 58
or visit www.thecalmzone.net.
The line is open every day from
5pm to 12 midnight
Read our leaflet on
supporting children and
young people
If you have questions about
how to support a child or young
person affected by the Grenfell
Tower fire, you can download
a leaflet that includes:
• Guidance on how a child might
behave or react after a tragic event
• Ideas for how to support them
• Advice on explaining to a child
what happened.
You can download a copy of the
leaflet at www.rbkc.gov.uk/kb5/
rbkc/fis/localoffer.page?local
offerchannel=0
Support for children with
disabilities and learning
difficulties
• Full of Life Kensington and
Chelsea is providing outreach
counselling to parents of children
with disabilities. A programme
of short breaks is being put in
place for the Summer.
Visit www.fulloflifekc.com
for more information.
Latest advice on air quality and dust from Dr Yvonne Doyle
Public Health England (PHE) has
been assessing and monitoring
air quality in the area surrounding
Grenfell Tower.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, PHE’s director
for London, said: “Some people
have said that their asthma has
been exacerbated. If you or
someone you know is having
problems with asthma, please
do ring your GP and get an
appointment as soon as possible.
“People have also told us that they
have noticed increased dust in the
local area. Generally, visible dust
can’t be inhaled into the lungs, as
such the risk to people’s health
from dust is considered to be low.
We have also monitored the air for
respirable dust and we have not
seen high concentrations in the areas
around Grenfell Tower, however if
people do notice any dust within their
property it can be safely removed by
wiping with a damp cloth.
“People who have been exposed
to smoke from the fire may have
experienced irritation to their air
passages, skin and eyes, which
can cause coughing and wheezing,
breathlessness and chest pain.
People who continue to experience
these symptoms should seek
medical advice from their GP
or on NHS 111.”
If someone does not have a GP,
they can register for one online
at www.nhs.uk by entering their
postcode, or call 020 8962 4600.
The line is open from 9am to 5pm,
Monday to Friday.
People can also ring NHS 111
for health advice 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
Air quality reports with data collected
from around the site is published
online every week at www.gov.
uk/government/publications/
environ mentalmon itoring-
following-thegrenfell-tower-fire
If people have waste material or
debris from the fire at their property,
they can contact Kensington and
Chelsea Council on 020 7361 3001
to make arrangements for them to
collect it.
More advice from PHE can be
found online at www.gov.uk/
government/news/public-health
-advice-follow
3
Grenfell Fire Response News
2 August 2017
What help is
on offer?
Anyone who would like to speak
to the police in relation to the
investigation into the fire are
asked to contact the Met Police
on 0800 032 4539.
Other important contacts
Bereavement support
Call the Freephone helpline
on 0808 808 1677 or email
helpline@cruse.org.uk. The
line is open 24 hours a day.
Replacement UK passports,
visas or immigration queries
Call our advice line on
0300 222 0000. The line
is open 24 hours.
Air quality and smoke exposure
If you have concerns about
any symptoms, please see
your doctor or call NPIS 111.
Housing support
If you have any questions about
housing or need to want to find
out who your housing officer
is please call 0800 137 111
or 020 7361 3008.
Victim support
Call 0808 1689 111 for practical
and emotional support, or visit
victimsupport.org.uk. The line
is open 24 hours a day.
You can also get physical and
mental support at the Grenfell
Assistance Centre. Find out
more by calling 07712 231 133.
You can also call the Red Cross
helpline on 0800 458 9472.
The line is open from 9am to 5pm,
Monday to Friday.
For regular updates please
follow us on Twitter at
@grenfellsupport and on
Facebook at facebook.com/
grenfellsupport, or visit
www.grenfellresponse.org.uk
Housing update
Finding housing solutions that work for everyone directly affected
by the Grenfell Tower fire remains our absolute priority and we are
working hard to achieve this.
Offers of temporary accommodation are being made on a daily basis,
but we know that families will have concerns around this process
and the idea of accepting a temporary home. So far, 174 offers
of accommodation have been made, 45 offers have been accepted
and 12 households rehoused.
Government has given commitments to help reassure families that:
• their needs are paramount,
all other considerations are
secondary to these
• their rent will not increase and
the same terms and conditions
of their previous home at Grenfell
Tower or Grenfell Walk will be
maintained
• they will have lifetime security
of tenure
• they will not be forced to stay
in temporary accommodation
on a long-term basis
• accepting an offer of temporary
accommodation does not mean
that they lose priority for a
permanent home
• no one has to accept a
particular property and not
accepting a property does not
mean that they will be made
intentionally homeless
• temporary homes will be rent
and utility bill free for 12 months
• for some cases, if they like their
temporary home, there is the
potential for it to become their
permanent home (this will be
discussed when the home is
offered to them).
More information is available on the
housing line on 020 7361 3008.
#Game4Grenfell charity football
match taking place
A charity football match, the #Game4Grenfell, will take place on Saturday
2 September to show support and raise money for the community affected
by the Grenfell Tower fire at Queen’s Park Rangers’ Loftus Road stadium.
Two teams of ex-professionals and celebrities, as well as a few special
guests, will take part in the special match, including Marcus Mumford,
Les Ferdinand, David Seaman, Alan Shearer, Peter Crouch, Oily Murs
and Jarvis Cocker.
Money raised from ticket sales will be given to the London Community
Foundation and the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund, who will
distribute the money to people affected by the fire and the wider
community.
Over 2,000 complimentary tickets will be issued to those affected by
the fire, including families, the emergency services, volunteers and
members of the local community.
Tickets to the #Game4Grenfell cost £15 for adults and £5 for concessions.
To find out more and buy tickets, visit www.game4grenfell.com
4
